VIRGINIA. I grant, dear Dame, I do agree, When time shall so provide; But tender youth and infancy Doth rather wish me bide. What, should I lose Diana’s gift And eke the spring to shun, By which Acteon fatally His final race did run? Should I as abject be esteemed Throughout Parnassus hill, Or should my virgin’s name be filed, It were too great a skill. But yet it is unspotted, lo, Right well I do conceive, When wedlock doth require the same, With parents’ love and leave: Yet obstinate I will not be, But willing will me yield, When you command, and not before, Then duty shall me shield. VIRGINIUS. Ah gods, that rule and reign in heavens, in seas, in floods, in lands, Two couples such, I surely deem, you never made with hands. Ah gods, why do ye not compel each dame the like to show, And every imp of her again her duty thus to know? I cannot stay my tongue from talk, I needs must call my dear. O spouse, well-met, and daughter too, what news? how do you cheer? MATER. O dear Virginius, joy to me, O peerless spouse and mate, In health, I praise the gods, I am, and joyful for thy state. VIRGINIUS. Virginia, my daughter dear, How standeth all with thee? VIRGINIA. Like happy state, as mother told. VIRGINIUS. Like joyful sight to me.[160] By the gods, wife, I joy me that have such a treasure, Such [a] gem and such [a] jewel, surmounting all measure: Such a happy spouse, such a fortunate dame, That no blot or stain can impair her fame, Against such an imp and graff of my tree, As clear doth surmount all others that be. MATER. Nay, rather, dear spouse, how much is my case, To be now advanced by such happy grace, Doth daily distil: my husband so loving, Granting and giving to all thing behoving, Joying in me and in the fruit of my womb: Who would not requite it, the gods yield their doom, And if it be I, the gods do destroy me, Rather than sin so sore should annoy me. VIRGINIUS. O wife, refell thy wishing for woe, Myself thy fau’t right well do know: And rather I wish myself to be slain Than thou or thy daughter ought woe should sustain. VIRGINIA. O father, my comfort, O mother, my joy, O dear and O sovereign, do cease to employ Such dolorous talking, where dangers are none: Where joys are attendant, what needeth this moan? You matron, you spouse, you nurse and you wife, You comfort, you only the sum of his life: You husband, you [sweet]heart, you joy, and you pleasure, You king and you kaiser too, her[161] only treasure: You father, you mother, my life doth sustain, I your babe, I your bliss, I your health am again.[162] Forbear then your dolor, let mirth be frequented, Let sorrow depart, and not be attempted. VIRGINIUS. O wife, O spouse, I am content. MATER. O husband. VIRGINIA. O father, we do consent. [_Sing here._